Let Freedom Ring: Freedom from Vengeance
At a word from You the devil and his minions flee in terror.
You are the source of all truth. You are the source of all strength.
By the power of your Cross and Resurrection, we beseech You, O Lord
To extend Your saving arm and to send Your holy angels
To defend us as we do battle with Satan and his demonic forces.
Exorcise, we pray, that which oppresses Your Bride, The Church,
So that within ourselves, our families, our parishes, our dioceses, and our nation
We may turn fully back to You in all fidelity and trust.
Lord, we know if You will it, it will be done.
Give us the perseverance for this mission, we pray.
Amen
St. Joseph...pray for us
St. Michael the Archangel...pray for us
(the patron of your parish )... pray for us
(your confirmation saint)...pray for us
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, etc.
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase
and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
__ Daily reflection and prayers
__ Litany of the day
__ Pray a Rosary
__ Divine Mercy Chaplet
__ Spiritual or corporal work of mercy
__ Fast/abstain (according to level)
__ Exercise (according to level/ability)
__ Refrain from conventional media (only 1 hr. of social)
__ Examination of conscience (confession 1x this week)
Monday in the First Week of Lent
WASHINGTONS
BIRTHDAY-BE HUMBLE-BILLY GRAHAM
Leviticus, Chapter 25, Verse 43
Do not lord it over them harshly,
but stand in FEAR of your God.
This
verse in the book of Leviticus is about how to treat the hired help or the
slaves of the rich. It was common for a poor Jew to hire himself out as a slave
for up to seven years, the year of the jubilee to pay for his daily bread.
Although a slave; God commands they will be treated with dignity and respect
for all the Jews were liberated by God from the Egyptians.
This
verse also from a modern standpoint sounds a lot like servant leadership. The
focus of the servant leader as discussed by Greenleaf (2002) is primarily in
serving. To serve both the organization and the people in it; this involves the
leader having to focus on how to best serve and having concern for well-rounded
work, community and power sharing. This is the greatness of our Lord in that He
shares with us His majesty and forgives us our failings.
As a leader help your workforce to become as
independent as they can. Help them establish their own businesses; if they have
the skill and will; if not help them to establish their own estates. If you are
a working person; do what you can to become Holy in the eyes of the Lord and
work toward establishing your own estate.
Monday in the First Week of Lent
EPISTLE. Ezech. xxxiv. 11-16.
THUS,
saith the Lord God: Behold I Myself will seek My sheep and will visit them. As
the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his
sheep that were scattered, so will I visit My sheep, and will deliver them out
of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the
countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the
mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. I
will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in
the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass and be
fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed My sheep: and I
will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost:
and that which was driven away I will bring again: and I will bind up that
which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was
fat and strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment, saith the
Lord Almighty.
GOSPEL. Matt. xxv. 31-46.
At
that time Jesus said to His disciples: When the Son of man
shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him, then shall He sit upon
the seat of His majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before Him,
and He shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the
sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the
goats on His left. Then shall the King say to them that shall be on His right
hand: Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat I
was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in
naked, and you covered Me: sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you
came to Me. Then shall the just answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee
hungry, and fed Thee; thirsty, and gave Thee drink? and when did we see Thee a
stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and covered Thee? or when did we see Thee
sick or in prison, and came to Thee? And the King answering, shall say to them:
Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you
did it to Me. Then He shall say to them also that shall be on His left hand:
Depart from Me, yon cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the
devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave Me not to eat I was
thirsty, and you gave Me not to drink I was a stranger, and you took Me not in
naked, and you covered Me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit Me.
Then they also shall answer Him, saying: Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or
thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister
to Thee? Then He shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you
did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to Me. And these shall
go into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting.
Prayer.
Convert us, O God, our salvation;
and, that the fast of Lent may benefit us, instruct our minds with heavenly
discipline.
Lenten Calendar[1]
·
Read: Lent is a special time for those
preparing to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).
RCIA is a period of learning and discernment for those seeking to become
Catholic.
·
Reflect; Take time to reflect on your own
decision to become a member of the Church.
·
Reflect
2: On February 22,
1931, Jesus appeared to Faustina as the King of Divine Mercy. He asked her to
have a picture painted of him as she saw him — clothed in white, with red and
white rays of light streaming from his heart. The rays represent the blood and
water that flowed from the side of Jesus on the cross. Under the image are the
words, "Jesus, I trust in you." Many people did not believe Faustina
at first. The sisters in her own convent thought that Jesus could not possibly
have selected her for this great favor. After all, she was an uneducated
peasant girl. Her superiors often refused to give her permission to carry out
Jesus' requests. Church theologians, too, doubted her word. Jesus told Faustina
that he loved her obedience and that his will would be done in the end.
·
Pray: Keep the elect, candidates, and
their sponsors in your prayers this Lent.
·
Act: Download the CRS Rice Bowl App. . . today and try a new way of tracking your Lenten
journey, while also receiving daily reflections and meatless recipes.
Preparing for Battle[2]
Know Your Weapons
The weapon of Sacred Scripture
·
Each
time the Devil attacked with the temptation to doubt or disobey God, Jesus
quoted Scripture to throw him back.
·
Scripture
is our sword against Satan!
·
We
must listen carefully to the scriptural readings in Mass and meditate on them
deeply.
·
We
must read Scripture on our own.
·
We
must also memorize scriptural texts that we can use against temptation. Then,
when the Enemy assaults us, we can imitate Our Lord by the effective
counterassault of quoting the word of God.
Washington’s Birthday[3]
In John McCain’s book Character is Destiny the 1st President of the United States is McCain’s example of a man who demonstrates for us the characteristic of SELF CONTROL. Self-control is the ability to control one's emotions, behavior, and desires in the face of external demands in order to function in society. (Matt DeLisi)
George Washington was a warrior and a mensch. Washington was a self-made man who learned to govern himself before he governed our great country. Washington was a passionate man by nature, yet he was famous for his reserve and graciousness to others. Washington worked on himself very hard to control his temper and to not be sensitive to criticism. It was a lifelong struggle and at times he was given to fits of anger. His passion was a two-edged sword that either cut for him or against him. His passion was also the source of his great courage. History records his fury in battle where he wore out two horses and stood in defiance of withering fire and having his coat tore by four musket balls. Washington did not just tell his men to stand fast and face the enemy but set the example; leaping headlong into battle and the men followed. Washington disciplined his passionate nature with iron will and self-control. Washington wrote, “Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present” and, “Labor to keep alive in your breast the little spark of celestial fire called conscience.”
He strove to be a man of unquestionable dignity and manners. He was modest and wore clothes that were fine and neat but never showy. He was consciously groomed and was seldom discourteous to anyone, of higher or lower station in life. He knew his strengths as well as his weaknesses; there was no hubris in him.
“He understood the nature of his countrymen as well as he understood his own. He knew we are all flawed, that we must always be alert to the danger of ungoverned appetites and must strive to control and improve our nature. He understood his country at its birth needed a leader of towering honor, wisdom, and selflessness, whose appearance must fit the role as well as his character, did. And through the constant application of his self-control, he inhabited that role as no one has again, and became, in fact, the father of our country. He imprinted his character on this nation, and in that sense, we are all his descendants, a people famous for our constant struggle to improve. We are never so removed from the failings of our nature that we cannot stand more improvement, but neither are we so removed from Washington’s magnificent example that we dare not dream we can achieve it.”
Son of the Republic[4]
In America, we have until now had no fear in worshiping our God in holiness and righteousness. In fact, the model in America since its founding has been one of “Many religions, but one covenant”.
We are certainly a blessed people because we
as a whole have not abandoned the covenant, nor shall we if the vision of
George Washington at Valley Forge is true. In it he saw that Americans would
remain true to our creator.
"Son of the Republic…Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, but in this greatest conflict the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land and the Union."
With these words the vision vanished, and I (Washington) started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown to me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.
FEBRUARY 22 EVENTS
Be Humble Day[5]
Humility may be the most difficult of all the virtues to
truly attain. There seems to be a paradox in that claiming to have humility may
be an act of pride. Some people might be prideful in their humility… or
something like that. Either way, Be Humble Day focuses on humbling yourself.
There is no boasting allowed on Be Humble Day. Choosing not to brag about your
successes and abilities can prove to be much more difficult than one might
anticipate, as the culture surrounding us is often centered on self and the
successes achieved by an individual. Throughout the age’s philosophers and the
average Joe alike have pondered humility and what it means to be truly humble.
It is a difficult question to answer and the final answer may never fully
present itself. But perhaps the seeking of humility is more important than the
achieving. In a fascinating twist of irony, the person responsible for the
founding of Be Humble Day is unknown. Whoever it was clearly took humility
seriously and didn’t bother to brag about starting a recognized day of
celebration. Perhaps the person was so humble that they didn’t even stop to
think they might have instigated something that would reach so far.
Observing Be Humble Day
The observance of Be Humble Day can be gone about in many ways,
but all the avenues of observance should maintain the quietness associated with
humility. There should be no loud proclamations of the fact that you’re
celebrating Be Humble Day, as that would ruin the point. The first step is
simply to bear in mind to be humble. If you keep that focus, then the rest may
follow along after quite simply. Remember: don’t focus on your own greatness
and the achievements you’ve made. Be Humble Day is also about encouraging
others and focusing on their achievements and giving a friend or co-worker the
props, they deserve is an excellent way to keep in the spirit of Be Humble Day.
If you’re looking for further inspiration and more ways to dig deeper into
humility on Be Humble Day then perhaps considering these quotes from some great
minds (a title foisted upon them by others, not one they themselves took in
keeping with humility) will assist you in your journey.
The Christian thinker C.S. Lewis, best known for his
beloved Chronicles of Narnia book series, said that “True humility is not
thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” A perfect quote
for Be Humble Day. Criss Jami, an American poet and philosopher observed that
“The biggest challenge after success is shutting up about it.” And if you think
you know something then stop for a minute and consider the words of Albert
Einstein: “A true genius admits that he/she knows nothing.” If Albert Einstein
can admit that he knows nothing, then perhaps there is hope for all of us to be
humbler in our everyday lives. Opportunities to humble ourselves pass us by
every day, and Be Humble Day is the perfect inspiration to sit up and notice
these chances to better ourselves and to make the world a more pleasant place
for the people around us.
Play More Cards Day[6]
Cards get a bad rap sometimes—and true, there are cards games
that can be very addictive if not kept under control. But cards can also be the
source of great entertainment for friends who just want to hang out and spend
some time together, laughing and relaxing. In general, however, playing cards
is fun, and as with most fun things that relax us, it’s typically a good idea
to do more of them and let your brain take a break from the stress it’s used to
for a change. This is where Play More Cards Day comes in. Play More Cards Day
was created in 2013 by Bicycle Cards, the biggest producer of playing cards in
the United States. The company began producing their cards in 1885, and they
have since had sizable roles in various important historical events. For example,
during World War II, the deck was designed as a puzzle, which when put
together, became a map. This map was supposed to help potential prisoners make
their way to safety once they escaped. Wars also prompted Bicycle Cards to
create waterproof cards that would not peel, rip or fall apart after coming
into contact with water or moisture. During the Vietnam War, the ace of spades
printed on Bicycle Cards’ playing cards was thought to have severe
psychological effects on the Viet Cong, which viewed it as a symbol of death
and infinite bad luck for their activities. Initially, this rumor was false,
but as time went by and American soldiers continued to use Bicycle Cards’ ace
of spades as their symbol, it eventually did become a relevant part of Vietnam
War psychological warfare symbolism.
How to Celebrate Play More Cards Day
The simplest, as well as the most fun way to celebrate this day,
is to, in fact, play more cards. Do you have a favorite card game? If not, find
out what you like best by trying out a few different card games. Some people
find playing a card game in which you have no partner or team especially fun
and challenging, while others prefer the company of another teammate to help
them out if they get in a fix, like the Polish cards game Hola. If you’re a
person who values peace and quiet above all other things, playing solitaire
with real cards as opposed to just clicking on them could prove entertaining.
Choose whichever card game you want to play on this day, the only requirement
is that you have a good time. Another great way to make sure a party (even a
small one) is a success is to have various foods to snack on. If you’re all to
be touching cards, it would probably be best of the snacks you choose were not
too greasy so as not to dirty the cards. With baked chips becoming all the more
popular compared to regular deep-fried chips, that could turn out to be a much
easier criterion to meet than it seems. And if all else fails, you and your
friends can simply take a break from the game to fill up on something tasty,
and them go right back to what you were doing.
Deck of Cards[7]
Song by Tex Ritter
Friends, this is Tex Ritter with a strange story about a soldier boy and a deck of cards. During a North African campaign, a bunch of soldier boys had been on a long hike, and they arrived in a little town called Casino."
The next morning being Sunday several of the boys went to church. A Sargent commanded the boys in church, and after the Chaplain had read the prayer the text was taken up next. Those of the boys who had a prayer book took them out, but this one boy only had a deck of cards, and so he spread them out. The Sergeant saw the cards and said, "Soldier, put away those cards." After the services were over the soldier was taken prisoner and brought before the Provost Marshall.
The Marshall said, "Sargent, why have you brought this man here?"
"For playing cards in church, sir."
"And what have you to say for yourself, son?"
"Much, sir." replied the soldier.
'The Marshall said, "I hope so, for if not, I shall punish you more than any man was ever punished."
The soldier said, "Sir, I have been on a march for about six days, and I had neither Bible nor Prayer Book, but I hope to satisfy you, Sir, with the purity of my intentions."
With that the boy started his story.
"You see, Sir, when I look at the Ace it reminds me that there is but one God. The deuce reminds me that the Bible is divided into two parts: The Old and New Testaments. And when I see the trey I think of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. When I see the four, I think of the four evangelist who preached the Gospel. There was Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And when I see the five it reminds me of the five wise virgins who trimmed their lamps. Ten of 'em; five who were wise and were saved; five were foolish and were shut out. And when I see the six it reminds me that in six days God made this great heaven and earth. And when I see the seven it reminds me that on the seventh day God rested from His great work. When I see the eight, I think of the eight righteous persons God saved when he destroyed this earth. There was Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their wives. And when I see the nine, I think of the lepers our Savior cleansed, and nine of the ten didn't even thank Him. When I see the ten, I think of the Ten Commandments God handed down to Moses on a tablet of stone. When I see the King, it reminds me that there is but one King of Heaven, God Almighty. And when I see the queen, I think of the Blessed Virgin Mary who is Queen of Heaven. And the jacks, or knaves, it's the devil. And when I count the number of spots on a deck of cards, I find three hundred sixty-five the number of days in a year. Fifty-two cards, the number of weeks in a year. Four suits, the number of weeks in a month. Twelve picture cards, the number of months in a year. Thirteen tricks, the number of weeks in a quarter. So, you see, Sir, my pack of cards serve me as a Bible, almanac, and prayer book."
"Friends, I know this story is true, because I knew
that soldier."
Billy
Graham[8]
b.
11-07-1918—d. 02-22-2018
·
The
devil certainly wants you to give in to temptation and do what is wrong,
because his main goal is to turn us away from God. When we yield to temptation,
you can be sure we make the devil happy.
·
But
the devil isn’t directly responsible for every temptation we face, nor can we
blame him when we give in and do wrong. Temptations come to us in many ways—but
when we give in to them, we alone are responsible for what we’ve done. The
Bible says, “Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged
away and enticed” (James 1:14).
·
Remember,
it isn’t a sin to be tempted; even Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn away
from God’s plan (see Matthew 4:1-11). But it is sin to give in to temptation
and go our own way instead of God’s way. Every sin is an act of rebellion on
our part, telling God we think our way is better than His way. But that is a lie, for God’s way
is always best.
·
Don’t
fight your temptations alone; if you do, you will fail. Instead, ask God to help you by giving you the
courage and inner strength to turn away. Begin by asking Christ to come into your life, forgiving
and cleansing your sins and coming to live within you by His Spirit.
·
Then
learn to walk with God every day, through prayer and fellowship with other
believers and reading the Bible. The Bible says, “God is faithful. … When you
are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it”
(1 Corinthians 10:13). `
Daily
Devotions/Activities
·
Eat waffles and Pray for the assistance of the Angels
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 1 day 6-Joy
·
Monday: Litany of
Humility
·
Rosary
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